England national netball team
The England national netball team, also known as the Vitality Roses, represent England Netball in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Netball Quad Series, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Fast5 Netball World Series and the European Netball Championship. They have also competed at the World Games. England made their Test debut in 1949 in [the United Kingdom|1949]. Their best result in a major tournament is a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games|2018 Commonwealth Games]. As of 1 June 2025, England are ranked fourth in the World Netball Rankings.
History
Early tests
England made their Test debut on 7 May 1949 with 25–3 win over Scotland. The match was played at the General Electric Company ground on Preston Road, Wembley during the Scotland Wales Netball Series">Scotland national netball team">Scotland Wales Netball Series. England also played Wales for the first time on the same day, again winning 25–3. In 1954, England played Northern Ireland for the first time. On 12 May 1956, England hosted a touring Australia. It was the first time England played an overseas team. Australia won 14–11 at Harringay Arena before a crowd of more than 5,000. Later in 1956, England played an away series against South Africa, winning all three tests.World Netball Rankings
Between 2008 and 2018, England were regularly ranked number three in the World Netball Rankings, behind Australia and New Zealand. In May 2018, after winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, they initially remained at number three. However in July 2018, they moved up to number two. This saw England became the first team to be ranked in the top two apart from Australia and New Zealand. After finishing as runners up at the 2019 Netball Quad Series and defeating both Australia and New Zealand, England returned to the number two position. In October 2024, England were ranked number two for a third time after defeating Australia in Australia during their 2024 series and then winning the 2024 [Taini Jamison Trophy Series]. As of 1 June 2025, England are ranked fourth in the World Netball Rankings.Tournament history
Netball World Cup
England have competed at every World Netball Championships and/or Netball World Cup since the inaugural 1963 tournament.Their best performances have been in 1975 and 2023 when on both occasions they finished second.
World Games
Between 1985 World Games|1985] and 1993 World Games|1993], England competed at the World Games.| Tournaments | Place |
| 1985 World Games | 4th |
| 1989 World Games | |
| 1993 World Games | 4th |
Commonwealth Games
England have competed at every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. Between 1998 Commonwealth Games|1998] and 2014 Commonwealth Games|2014], Australia and New Zealand contested every final and won every gold and silver medal between them. However, in 2018, England caused a major surprise when, with a team coached by Tracey Neville and captained by Ama Agbeze, they defeated Australia in the final. Helen Housby scored in the final second to give England a 52–51 victory. As a result England became only the third team to both reach the final and win the gold medal. At the 2018 [BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award]s, England's last second win over Australia was voted sporting moment of the year. England were also named Team of the Year Award|Team of the Year].| Tournaments | Place |
| 1998 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2002 Commonwealth Games | 4th |
| 2006 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Commonwealth Games] | |
| 2014 Commonwealth Games | 4th |
| 2018 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2022 Commonwealth Games|2022 Commonwealth Games] | 4th |
Taini Jamison Trophy
Since 2008, Netball New Zealand has hosted the Taini Jamison Trophy series. The series features New Zealand playing against visiting teams. England competed in the inaugural 2008 series and have been regular participants ever since. In 2021, they won the series for the first time. It was the first time that England had won a series in New Zealand. The England team were coached by Jess Thirlby and captained by Serena Guthrie.In 2024, England won the series for a second time. The team was again coached by Thirlby and this time captained by Fran Williams.
Netball Quad Series/Nations Cup
Since 2012, England have competed in the Netball Quad Series, playing against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 2025, with a team coached by Jess Thirlby and captained by Fran Williams, England won the series for the first time after defeating South Africa 61–55 in the final. It proved sixth time lucky for England. Since the Nations Cup/Quad Series was established in 2012, England had finished as runners up five times.Fast5 Netball World Series
Since 2009, England have played in the Fast5 Netball World Series. In 2011, with a team coached by Anna Mayes and captained by Jade Clarke, England defeated New Zealand 33–26 in the final to win their first major tournament. In 2017 [Fast5 Netball World Series|2017], with a team coached by Tracey Neville and captained by Ama Agbeze, England won the series for a second time. In the final they defeated Jamaica 34–29.Netball Europe Open Championships
England have regularly played in the Netball Europe Open Championships, playing against teams such as Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. England are the competition's most successful team.| Tournaments | Place |
| 1998 FENA Open | |
| 1999 FENA Open | |
| 2000 FENA Open | |
| 2001 FENA Open | 2nd |
| 2002 FENA Open | |
| 2003 FENA Open | |
| 2004 FENA Open | |
| 2005 FENA Open | |
| 2006 FENA Open | |
| 2007 FENA Open | |
| 2008 FENA Open | |
| 2009 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2010 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2011 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2012 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2013 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2015 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2016 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2017 Netball Europe Open Championships | |
| 2019 Netball Europe Open Championships |
Notable players
Notable past players
England Netball's Hall of Fame
The following England netball internationals have been inducted into England Netball's Hall of Fame.2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists
The following England netball internationals were members of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. At the 2018 BBC [Sports Personality of the Year Award]s, they were also named Team of the Year.| Player | Appearances | Years |
| Ama Agbeze | 2001– | |
| Eboni Beckford-Chambers | 116 | 2008–2022 |
| Jade Clarke | 208 | 2003– |
| Beth Cobden | 35 | 2016– |
| Kadeen Corbin | 72 | 2011–2021 |
| Jodie Gibson | 25 | 2013– |
| Serena Guthrie | 110 | 2008–2022 |
| Joanne Harten | 117 | 2007–2023 |
| Natalie Haythornthwaite | 86 | 2015– |
| Helen Housby | 102 | 2014– |
| Geva Mentor | 175 | 2001–2023 |
| Chelsea Pitman | 52 | 2017–2023 |
Honours
- World Netball Championships/Netball World Cup
- *Runners up: 1975, 2023
- Commonwealth Games
- *Winners: 2018
- Taini Jamison Trophy
- *Winners: 2021, 2024
- *Runners Up: 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
- Netball Quad Series/Nations Cup
- *Winners: 2025
- *Runners Up: 2018 (January), 2018 (September), 2019, 2022, 2024
- Fast5 Netball World Series
- *Winners: 2011, 2017
- *Runners up: 2010, 2012
- Netball Europe Open Championships
- *Winners: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
- *Runner up: 2013
- BBC Sports Team of the Year Award
- *Winners: 2018 BBC Sports [Personality of the Year Award|2018]